Richard Pusey’s ex-girlfriend defends Porsche driver over Melbourne crash

An ex-girlfriend of a Porsche driving ‘playboy’ who fled the scene of a horror crash in which four police officers died sent a message to Victoria Police defending him after she found out about his arrest. 

Richard Pusey, 41, was charged on Thursday night for his involvement in the Eastern Freeway tragedy that claimed the lives of four Victoria Police officers on Wednesday – the biggest loss of officer life in Victorian history.

Pusey was allegedly high on drugs and speeding at 140km/h in his Porsche 911 when police pulled him over. 

Minutes later, as the four officers and Pusey stood on the side of the road, Mohinder Singh Bajwa lost control of his refrigeration truck and careered into the parked cars, killing the four police officers instantly.

Instead of trying to save lives, Pusey took photos of the scene before fleeing on foot.

A court heard on Friday how Pusey videoed Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor as she lay dying, saying: Amazing. Absolutely amazing. All I wanted to do was go home and eat my sushi and now you have f**ked my f**king car’.

After reading about Pusey’s arrest a former lover Bonnie Wang sent him a Whatsapp message in the hope detectives would have his phone and would see her defending him as a ‘gentle person’.

Bonnie Wang (right) defended her ex-boyfriend Richard Pusey (left) by sending a text message to his phone in the hope Victoria Police officers would see it. Pusey, 41, is charged over his role in the tragic crash that killed four officers on the Eastern Freeway, Melbourne, on Wednesday

Ms Wang who dated Pusey for three years, described him as a 'gentle person' and said she was in no doubt he did not mean for the four officers to die

After pulling over Pusey a passing truck lost control and slammed into the parked police cars and his Porsche, killing the four officers

Ms Wang who dated Pusey for three years, described him as a ‘gentle person’ and said she was in no doubt he did not mean for the four officers to die. After pulling over Pusey a passing truck lost control and slammed into the parked police cars and his Porsche, killing the four officers

Pusey was allegedly high on drugs and speeding at more than 140km/h along the Eastern Freeway in his Porsche (pictured after the crash) about 4.50pm on Wednesday afternoon

Pusey was allegedly high on drugs and speeding at more than 140km/h along the Eastern Freeway in his Porsche (pictured after the crash) about 4.50pm on Wednesday afternoon

‘I texted Richard’s Whatsapp hoping police will check his messages. It’s just when I know someone so well, reading all the comments and misrepresentation (is hard),’ Ms Wang said.

In her attempted text to police through Richard’s phone, she claimed he had always treated her well.

‘Dear police officer, I am very sorry for what Richard did,’ she wrote. 

‘He always take care of me [sic] and be very nice to me. 

‘I feel he is a gentle person. I think he is not a bad person. I haven’t contacted him since 2015 when I left Melbourne, but I can promise to you that he has nothing to do with violence or hurt [sic] people.’

Ms Wang dated Pusey for three years between 2011 and 2014, after meeting on RSVP – a relationship website.

Their split came because she wanted kids, but Pusey did not.

Ms Wang claimed her former boyfriend had been heavily affected by the death of his older brother to cancer in 2008, and it impacted on his decision not to want a family.

She revealed he used to be a nurse but a love for fast cars and a fast lifestyle saw him change careers.

This led him down a path to become a mortgage broker, what his current colleagues describing how he lived a ‘playboy lifestyle’.

Pusey (pictured) fled the scene but was arrested on Thursday. He has since been charged with a number of offences, including stopping to render assistance and drug possession

Pusey (pictured) fled the scene but was arrested on Thursday. He has since been charged with a number of offences, including stopping to render assistance and drug possession

Pusey is expected to face the Melbourne Magistrates on court Friday morning

Pusey is expected to face the Melbourne Magistrates on court Friday morning

Police pulled over a speeding driver at 4.50pm on Wednesday, then proceeded to call for backup from highway patrol when they decided to impound the car. By 5.40pm, the refrigeration truck had ploughed into the three cars and four officers, killing them all

Police pulled over a speeding driver at 4.50pm on Wednesday, then proceeded to call for backup from highway patrol when they decided to impound the car. By 5.40pm, the refrigeration truck had ploughed into the three cars and four officers, killing them all

‘He was a nurse but then he thinks being a nurse doesn’t make enough money, so he start being (a) mortgage broker,’ Ms Wang said.

‘He liked to save money to invest in more properties and to buy cars.’ 

Pusey’s alleged actions on Wednesday night were labelled as ‘disgusting’ by Victoria Police chief commissioner Graham Ashton. 

‘We found that behaviour frankly disgusting and it’s disgusted everyone,’ he said.

‘We’ll be making sure that when we present this person to court, ultimately, we’ll be making sure the court knows all about that behaviour that we believe took place at the scene.

‘Normally, you should be doing what any sensible person would do and that is to render assistance.

‘To just leave the scene and not render any assistance, it’s appalling behaviour in our view.

‘It’s incredible, I’ve never encountered anything like it.’

Late on Thursday night, Homicide Squad detectives charged Pusey with a number of offences including reckless conduct endangering life, failing to render assistance and drug possession. 

In the moments after the crash, Pusey is alleged to have taken disturbing pictures showing the officers' lifeless bodies, before uploading them to Facebook. Victoria Police commissioner Graham Ashton described the act as 'frankly disgusting'

In the moments after the crash, Pusey is alleged to have taken disturbing pictures showing the officers’ lifeless bodies, before uploading them to Facebook. Victoria Police commissioner Graham Ashton described the act as ‘frankly disgusting’

Senior Constable Kevin King (pictured) was described as 'an older head with a lot of life experience who always made good judgement calls and decisions'

Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor (pictured), 60, had a distinguished 31-year career with Victoria Police, joining in January 1989

Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor (right), 60, had a distinguished 31-year career with Victoria Police, joining in January 1989, while Senior Constable Kevin King (left) was described as ‘an older head with a lot of life experience

Constable Glen Humphris (pictured) only started his police career last year, graduating in March

Josh Prestney (pictured) only graduated from the academy in December, and was described as a 'much-loved' member of the squad

Josh Prestney (right) only graduated from the academy in December, and was described as a ‘much-loved’ member of the squad, Constable Glen Humphris (left) only started his police career last year, graduating in March

Four police officers were killed when they were struck by a truck (pictured at the tragic scene) in Melbourne, marking the greatest loss of police life in a single incident in Victoria's history

Four police officers were killed when they were struck by a truck (pictured at the tragic scene) in Melbourne, marking the greatest loss of police life in a single incident in Victoria’s history

Before fleeing the scene, Pusey is alleged to have taken several distressing images of their bodies strewn across the road – posting them on his Facebook page, instead of helping to save their lives.

The photos are too graphic to publish. 

It’s believed Pusey wasn’t hurt in the collision because he was urinating at the side of the road at the time.

He was remanded in custody and is set to face the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday morning. 

The charge of failing to render assistance carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.

After leaving the scene, Pusey allegedly returned to his home at Fitzroy before going to a Chemist Warehouse store in Collingwood on Thursday morning.

When he began showing the disturbing photos to pharmacy staff they called police, who quickly swooped and arrested him. 

It's believed Pusey wasn't hurt in the collision because he was urinating at the side of the road at the time

It’s believed Pusey wasn’t hurt in the collision because he was urinating at the side of the road at the time

The police car that arrived at the scene (pictured) was crushed by a refrigeration truck - killing four police officers who were standing by the roadside

The police car that arrived at the scene (pictured) was crushed by a refrigeration truck – killing four police officers who were standing by the roadside

Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton lays a tribute at Boroondara Police Station. Tributes have been flowing across the country, with many iconic buildings lit up with blue light

Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton lays a tribute at Boroondara Police Station. Tributes have been flowing across the country, with many iconic buildings lit up with blue light

Truck driver Mohinder Singh Bajwa – who had a ‘medical episode’ and blacked out at the scene – remains under police guard in hospital.

He is yet to be officially interviewed by the homicide squad. 

The tragedy began about 4.50pm when a Highway Patrol car pulled Pusey over in an emergency lane of the Eastern Freeway at Kew, in Melbourne’s south-east.

As is standard procedure, the two officers performed a roadside drug test to which he allegedly returned a positive reading.

They then made the decision to impound his Porsche 911 sportscar and called in two more officers for assistance.  

Within minutes of the second police car arriving, Mr Bajwa’s refrigerated truck struck the three cars – and the four officers standing on the roadside. 

Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor, Senior Constable Kevin King, Constable Josh Prestney and Constable Glen Humphris were all killed instantly.

Fallen in the line of duty: Emotional tributes flow for the victims of horrific Melbourne crash

The first victim of the horrific crash which cost four Victorian police officers their lives has been identified as 28-year-old Josh Prestney.

Mr Prestney had only graduated from the academy last November, and was working a short stint with the road policing unit before he was to be transferred to Kew police station. 

His grandmother Eliza Anderson told the Herald Sun Mr Prestney was ‘so proud to serve’ his community.

He had reportedly only started in his new role on Tuesday, the day before the accident. 

‘We were so proud of you. God bless Josh. Miss you forever,’ she wrote on Facebook. 

Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor, Constable Glen Humphris and Senior Constable Kevin King were all also tragically killed on Wednesday night.

Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton paid an emotional tribute to the fallen officers on Thursday.

‘Their names will forever be remembered, their service honoured, and their memories celebrated,’ he said.

‘These officers were undertaking their everyday duties in helping to keep the community safe when they were killed.

‘They were members of our Road Policing Drug and Alcohol Section and Highway Patrol. They were our colleagues, our friends, our squad mates, our family.

‘Each from different backgrounds, each with different life experiences, each with a common goal to keep the community safe.

‘Their families will never be the same and our thoughts and prayers are with them.

‘We continue to investigate this incident to ensure that we uncover every detail that led to this tragic outcome. We will do this for those we have lost and for their families.

‘Committing one’s life to serving and protecting others is a truly unique attribute. It takes a special person to put on the blue uniform and turn up to work each day to respond to those in need.

‘They do it to protect. They do it to make a difference. 

‘As many will attest, the everyday nature of police work can sometimes seem mundane, but this week’s events are a timely reminder of how quickly that can change.

‘No one goes to work expecting not to return home to their loved ones at the end of their shift.

‘I want to acknowledge every man and woman that has in the past and continues to serve for Victoria Police. Your contributions are recognised and respected at every level, and you should know this.

‘To the serving police officers and PSOs currently on our frontline and the staff who provide support to them, I want to extend my sincere gratitude for your ongoing support and commitment to your duty.

‘It is more important now than ever, that we look after one another and speak up if we need help or someone to talk to.

‘Time and time again, I am overwhelmed by how our people rally together during the tough and challenging times – through natural disasters, state-wide emergencies, mass tragedies and the loss of our own.

‘They go where they are needed, without question and without hesitation.

‘We stand side by side in our daily response to the Victorian community. And today we stand side by side as we reflect and grieve.

‘The outpouring of community support to date has been truly remarkable and touching and on behalf of Victoria Police, I thank you for this.

‘It will take time for many to recover from this tragedy, but we should take comfort in knowing that we stand together as a police family and as a Victorian community.’

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